Sierra Leone Secures Two Education Deals with Russia
Sierra Leone has signed two Memoranda of Understanding with Russian institutions to strengthen academic cooperation and expand opportunities in technical education, scientific research and skills development.
The agreements were signed by the Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Haja Ramatulai Wurie, during the Third Russia–Africa Summit and Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow.
One of the agreements, signed with Ufa University of Science and Technology (UUST), establishes a framework for collaboration with Sierra Leone’s public universities in engineering, artificial intelligence, data science, renewable energy, mining, agricultural biotechnology and biomedical research.
The partnership is expected to facilitate joint research, postgraduate training, academic exchanges and innovation through collaboration between the participating institutions.
The second agreement, signed with the Centre for Public Diplomacy (CPD), formalises an existing cooperation programme in Sierra Leone, which includes the introduction of Russian-language classes in October 2026.
According to Wurie, nearly 100 schoolchildren have enrolled in the language programme, which is expected to expand through plans to establish an international engineering class in collaboration with Novosibirsk State Technical University.
Eastern Technical University of Sierra Leone (ETU-SL) is expected to host the initial engineering class, which is planned to feature a virtual laboratory and specialised technical training alongside Russian-language instruction.
The programme is intended to prepare participating students for potential admission to universities in Russia.
Wurie said the agreements would connect Sierra Leone’s higher education institutions and young people to international research, scientific knowledge and innovation opportunities.
She also stressed the importance of translating the agreements into practical programmes that will strengthen institutional capacity, develop skills and expand opportunities for young people.
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